Potato exporters urge govt to reinstate 20pc cash incentive
STAFF REPORTER
Potato exporters urged the government to reinstate cash incentive to 20 per cent from existing 10 per cent to help raise the export and to create rural employment.
Shaikh Abdul Quader, president, Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association, came up with the call at a press briefing in the capital on Wednesday, says a press release.
The cash incentive for the sector was reduced by a circular issued by Bangladesh Bank Wednesday.
The export of potato marked sharp rise following the governments 20 per cent cash incentive offer along with the vegetable in 2011, said Shaikh Abdul Quader.
The uptrend of potato export continue to grow but Bangladesh Bank decision on reduction of cash incentive to 10 per cent would affect the export of potatoes to different global destinations, said Quader.
For the sake of exporters and farmers, I urged the government to reinstate the cash incentive to 20 per cent as it would help the sector to earn more foreign current contributing to GDP as well as the export, Quader adds.
If the government provides cash incentives it would help creating rural employment, poverty reduction and women empowerment are the core contribution in potato export, the exporters leader stated.
Production export processing of potatoes creates six times more employment than that of rice production, he added.
Following incentives, exports of potato climbed to $8.49 million in FY 2011-12 from $0.68 in the previous FY. The trend continued in the following FYs. The figure stood $32.22 million in FY 2014-15.
BPEA the Secretary-General Zakir Hossain, Joint-Secretary General Kazi Munni, were present, among others.
